Cushion mounted ball and socket fifth wheel



Sept. 21, i937. A.` A. KRAMER 2,093,751

` CUSHION MOUNTED BALL AND SOCKET FIFTH WHEEL Filed Oct. 9, 1935 9 f' /l g1 INVENTOR Arid/e WA. Kramer- 50 WW/ic@ 25 vide a fth wheel structure of the above ment0 provide 011e 0f the members 0f a ball and 2.5 tioned character in which means is provided socket connection on said slidably mounted mem- Whereby a certain amount of slack Will be prober S0 as t0 provide a ball and socket fifth Wheel vided between the pulling vehicle and the trailer member that is provided with a cushioned mountvehicle so as to reduce the elort necessary for ing on the pulling vehicle.

30 starting the combined tractor and trailer vehicles, Other objects and advantages of my invention 30 and to provide means whereby, after the trailer will appear as the description of the drawings vehicle has been started, it will tend to resume proceeds. I desire to have it understood, how-v its normal location relative to the pulling Vehicle. ever, that I d0 rlOt intend t0 limit myself t0 the It is a further purpose of my invention to particular details shown or described, except as 35 provide a fifth wheel structure of the above mendefined in the claims. 35

tioned character, which comprises a ball member In the drawing: and a socket member that are so mounted rela- Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly tive to each other that they are interloeked, prein vertical section of a fragmentary portion of a venting any accidental disengagement of the tractor and trailer. Showing my improved ball trailer from the pulling vehicle. However, the and socketfifth wheel associated therewith, said 40 socket member is so made that it can be sepatractor and trailer being partly broken away to rated to permit the disengagement of the ball more clearly reveal the mounting of the fth member therefrom when this may be desired, Wheel member thereon, and to permit proper fitting of the ball and Fig. 2 is a View partly in horizontal section 45 socket members. and partly in plan on an enlarged scale, taken It is another purpose of my invention to prosubstantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. vide a ball and socket fth wheel device in which Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 one of said members is mounted on the pulling of Fig. 2, fragments of the tractor and trailer bevehicle and the other on the trailer, and one of ing shown associated therewith. said members is provided with resilient means so Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially 50 related thereto that said resilient means will on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3and provide a cushion mounting for said member and Fig- 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the socket Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITE STATES ATENT OFFICE CUSHION MOUNTED BALL AND SOCKET FIFTH WHEEL Andrew A. Kramer, Kansas City, Mo. Application October 9, 1935, Serial No. 44,215 5 Claims. (Cl. 5280-331) My invention relates to fth wheel structures, the trailer and tractor in a forward or rearward and more particularly to a cushioned ball and direction. socket fifth wheel structure. It is still a further purpose of my invention to It is a purpose of my invention to provide new provide a ball and socket fifth wheel of the abovel 5 and improved means for connecting a tractor, or mentioned character, which is compact so as to 5 pulling Vehicle, and a trailer together in such not unduly raise the forward end of the trailer a manner that the trailer and the tractor are above the frame of the tractor, or pulling veconnected by a universally tiltable connection hicle, and which is strong and easily attached to which is provided with a cushioned mounting the pulling vehicle and which isprovided with lo to take up the shock of starting and stopping of cushioning means so mounted that the same can 10 the vehicle and the application and release of be readily replaced, should this become necessary. the brakes, or in other words, to take up any It is an important purpose of my invention to shock that might be occasioned by any relative provide means for lubricating a cushioned ball longitudinal movements of the tractor, or pulling and socket fifth wheel mechanismy of the above l5 vehicle, and the trailer. Said universally tiltable mentioned character, 15 connection is provided in order that the trailer It is a particular purpose 0f my invention to vehicle may have a sidewise rocking motion relaprovide a ball and socket fth wheel member, tive toy the pulling vehicle, or may tilt about a comprising a base member and a member 10I1g1'- substantially transverse axis due to the fact that tudihally slidably mounted for guided movement the trailer vehicle and pulling vehicle wheels are on said base member, with cushioning means as- 20 passing over surfaces at diierent levels, 0r that SOCiated With said base member and Said sll'dably a combination of these movements between the mounted member for cushioning relative longitrailer and pulling vehicle may take place. tudinal movements of said base member and said It is a further purpose of my invention to promember mounted thereon in either direction, and

buit relative longitudinal movements of the trailcarrying member with the upper Socket Portion er and tractor, or pulling vehicle, relative to each removed.

other, whether these be relative movements of Referring in detail t0 the drawing, my im-v 55 2 proved fth wheel structure is shown as being applied to any tractor, such as the truck II), and as connecting with said truck, or tractor, II] a tank semi-trailer II. The tractor is, of course, provided with longitudinally extending members I2 forming a portion of the frame thereof, and the trailer is provided with transverse frame members, or bracing members, I3 and I4, these being shown as being angles and being firmly united with the trailer, whether the same be a tank trailer or otherwise, preferably, by being welded thereto and to the longitudinally extending bracing members I5. The tank semi-trailer II is shown as being of an offset character and while the invention is particularly advantageous with a drop frame vehicle, or offset vehicle, serving as a trailer, or what is commonly referred to as a drop frame semi-trailer, the same could be utilized on any semi-trailer.

My improved fth wheel structure comprises a mounting member i5, which is made up ci a plate which has doubled back end flanges I1 and a pair of hollow metallic bolsters, or transverse mounting members, I8, which are formed from theplate I5 by bending the same from the plate and welding the extremity I9 thereof to the body of the plate. The hollow holsters, or box ilanges, I8 are formed from the plate i6 by suitably bending the same after forming the fold or doubled portion I1. Said hollow transversely extending members I8 are provided with inclined walls 8 joining the doubled portions i1 with the at top walls 9 and the walls 'l thereof extend substantially perpendicularly to the bottom portion of said base or mounting member and to the top walls 9. The doubled portions I1 are integrally welded together to provide a pair of anges on said member I6 of double strength and thickness. End walls 5 are also welded in sai-d bolsters I3 to close the same and strengthen the same. The mounting member I6 is secured on the frame members I2 by means of the bolts 5i! extending on opposite sides of said beams and through openings in the thickened flanges I1 and plates 59, said bolts being provided with nuts 5i. While the member I6 is shown as being mounted directly on the frame members i2, it is obvious that suitable blocks can be inserted between the members i2 and le to raise the member lf3 to a higher point than shown, should this be desirable. The base member 2S has its main body portion resting on the plate I8 and is secured to said plate I8 by means of bolts 53 extending through the hollow bolsters I8 and through the flanges 2I provided on the end walls, or abutments, 22 on said member 20, said flanges 2| engaging the top walls 9 of said bolsters I8. Said base member is also provided with the side flanges 23 providing a box-like chamber, or recess, in the base member 2i! between the end walls 22 and side flanges 23.

A socket carrying member 24 is slidably mounted face to face on the member 2t engaging thek anges 2l thereon and is limited in its sliding movements by means of the slots 25 provided in the member 24, said slots being provided with suitable reinforcing ribs 28 around the same. Bolts 21 extend through the slots 25 and are provided with nuts 28 and washers 29, said bolts 21 extending snugly through openings in the anges 2| so as to be xed relative thereto, and said nuts being, preferably, welded in position to prevent accidental disengagement thereof. The socket carrying member 24 will thus have limited sliding movement on the base member 20.

Said socket carrying member 24 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting tubular ears 30, which are each provided with a bore, or passage, 3I therethrough in which a rod, or shaft, 32 is slidably mounted. Each rod, or shaft, 32 also extends through an opening in each of the abutments 22 and collars 33 are mounted on said shaft-like members 32 for holding the same in position in the openings, suitable pins 34 being provided for fixing said collars to said shafts. A sort of a cross head arrangement is thus provided for connecting the base member 2i) and the socket carrying member 24 through the ears 3i] and the shafts, or rods, 32. Coiled compression springs 35 are mounted on the members 32 between the ears 3U and the collars 33 to cushion the movements of the member 24 longitudinally relative to the member 20.

The socket carrying member 2li is provided substantially centrally thereof with a concavoconvex depression 35, the inner surface of which forms a. portion of a sphere and forms part of the socket member of the ball and socket connection. The upper portion of the socket member of said ball and socket connection is formed of a pair of socket forming members 31, which are provided with circumferential flanges 38 that are secured in fixed position on the member 28 by suitable headed fastening elements 39, which are shown as being bolts and nuts, although any suitable detachable connection may be provided between said members 31 and the member 211.

Said socket forming members 31 have upwardly and inwardly extending tions 4t, which have their inner faces curved on the surface of a sphere, and which, together with the spherical inner surface of the socket forming portion 3S of the member 255, form the socket of the ball and socket fth wheel member, said socket having a spheroidal surface which is greater than hemispherical so that the ball member cooperating therewith will be interlocked therewith when assembled therewith. However, the members 31 form the portion of the socket that is in excess of a hemispherical socket so that upon detachment of the members 31 the ball can be detached from the socket member.

The socket carrying member 2d is provided with a plurality oi tapering flanges lli along the opposite side edges thereof extending from the opposite ends toward the longitudinal middle of the member said ilanges [il serving to reinforce said socket carrying member 2d. It will be noted that the socket portions 31 are slightly separated from each other, leaving a space at ft2. ment purposes. The parts described constitute the lower fifth wheel member, with which an upper fifth wheel member' cooperates.

The upper fifth wheel member is mounted on the trailer vehicle by being secured to a pair of cross members til, said upper fifth wheel member comprising a body portion 63 which is provided with a pair of fia-ages extending transversely of the trailer vehicle and secured to the members I4 by suitable headed fastening elements, such as the bolts and nuts shown at 45. Suitable reinforcing webs 46 are provided between said flanges and the central substantially rectangular socket portion t1 of said base member.

position, preferably, by welding both at 6I and curved flange por- This is desirable for assembly and adjust- Mounted in the socket portion 41 in xed 62?, is the rectangular hollow body portion 63 of the hollow ball member which terminates in a spherical ball portion 48, the outer spherical surface of the portion 48 being on the same radius of curvature as the inner spherical surface of the socket member formed of the portions 36 and 4B, there being such spacing between the ball and socket, however, that the same will be free to swivel or turn in any direction relative to each other so as to provide a universal connection between the pulling vehicle and the trailer vehicle.

The interior of the ball ended member comprising the ball member of the ball and socket iifth wheel may be hollowed out, as indicated at 64, to reduce the weight thereof, although this would depend upon the size thereof and the strength that may be necessary to be provided for said upper fth wheel member. The neck portion 65 is curved concavely on the exterior thereof so as to join smoothly with the spherical ball end portion on the upper fifth wheel member and is so formed as not to interfere in any way with the movements of the ball and socket connection provided, within the limits that may be desirable for a device of this character.

Means is provided for lubricating the ball and socket fth wheel member. The lubrication is, preferably, accomplished by means of grease, and fittings are provided at 66, 61 and 68 for connecting some well known form of grease gun with suitable conduits leading to the parts of the device that have to be lubricated. 'Ihe ttings $6 are provided for the purpose of lubricating the engaging surfaces of the members and 24, and passages Se are provided through the member 24 for conducting the grease to the engaging surfaces of the members 2D and 24. Passages I@ are provided in the tubular, or sleeve-like members, 3i) that lead to the shaft-like members 32 for lubricating the engaging surfaces of the members 30 and 32. The ball and socket themselves are lubricated through the conduit Il that leads from the tting 68 and which has an elbow 'i2 thereon that is provided with a nipple 13 that is threaded into an opening in the bottom of the socket portion 36, the socket portion being somewhat thickened at 14 for this purpose.

A central well, or recess, 75 is provided in the bottom of the socket portion 36 and grooves 16 radiate from said recess, or socket, 'I5 for distributing the lubricant up along the sides of the socket. The ball member 48 is somewhat flattened at the bottom thereof, as indicated at 'Vl so as to provide a space in which lubricant can be carried up along the walls of the socket member as the ball member 48 moves through its tilting movements relative to said socket member. 'Ihus lubrication is assured for the entire lower portion of the socket where the major portion of the wear would occur, and lubricant would also be carried up into the upper portion of the socket member due to the movements of the ball member in the socket member. If desired, lubricant could also be applied at the slots 45 and the openings 42 between the two upper halves of the upper socket member, but ordinarily this will not be necessary, as the lubricant will tend to enter the slots 45 and the slots 42 Idue to the fact that the same has been applied through the ttings under pressure and due to the fact that the parts will be moving back and forth and the lubricant will be carried with the parts as such movement takes place.

It will be noted that the socket carrying member 24 is provided with a pair of reinforcing ribs 80 extending between the tubular ears 30.

What I claim is:-

1. A fth wheel structure comprising a base member, a member mounted for longitudinal movement on said base member, said base member having a depression therein having end walls, said second member having ears depending into said depression, resilient means mounted between said ears and said end walls to oppose relative longitudinal movements of said members in both directions, a socket on said second member eX- tending into said depression and a member having a ball rigidly mounted thereon mounted in said socket.

2. In a fth wheel structure, an upper fifth wheel member having a depending ball member thereon, and a lower fifth wheel member comprising a base member having at top faces thereon and having a depression between said faces, a plate-like member slidably mounted on said base member and engaging said flat top faces thereof, means for guiding the sliding movements of said plate-like member on said base member and a socket member' with which said ball member engages on said plate-like member depending therefrom into said depression.

3. In a fth wheel structure, an upper fth wheel member having a depending ball member thereon, and a lower fifth wheel member comprising a base member having at top faces thereon and having a depression between said faces, a plate-like member slidably mounted on said base member and engaging said flat top faces thereof, means for guiding the sliding movements of said plate-like member on said base member and a socket member with which said ball member engages on said plate-like member depending therefrom into said depression, said socket member having laterally projecting ears thereon provided with sleeve-like portions, rod-like members xed in said base member slidably engaging said sleeve-like portions and resilient members mounted between said sleeve-like portions and said said sleeve-like portions, rod-like resilient members being mounted in said ydepression.

4. In a fth wheel structure, a lower fth wheel member comprising a mounting member having a pair of transversely extending hollow metal box-like bolsters and a web portion connecting said bolsters, a base member detachably mounted thereon, said base member having a depressed portion engaging said web and flanges engaging said bolsters, and a socket carrying member detachably slidably mounted on said flanges.

5. In a iifthwheel structure, a lower fth Wheel member comprising a mounting member having a pair of transversely extending hollow metal box-like bolsters having inclined wall portions terminating in outwardly directed flanges and a web portion connecting said bolsters, a base member detachably mounted thereon, said base member having a depressed portion engaging said web and flanges engaging said bolsters, and a socket carrying member detachably slidably mounted on said flanges.

ANDREW A. KRAMER. 

